iPolitics AM: MPs head back to the House to debate COVID-19 response, vote on new bill

Minister of Finance Bill Morneau holds a press conference to speak about the government's measures to help Canadians with the effects of COVID-19 pandemic from West Block in Ottawa on March 27, 2020. Andrew Meade/iPolitics

A day after more than 200 MPs fired up their webcams to join the first ever virtual meeting of the SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, a much smaller contingent of members is heading back to the Commons Chamber for an in-person session this afternoon.

As per the notice, the sitting is set to get underway at noon, and will follow the same programme as yesterday’s remote meet-up: An opening round of ministerial statements and up to 15 minutes to allow MPs to present petitions before kicking off the main event: An extended 90 minute question period, during which the leaders of all three recognized opposition parties will get the chance to question Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other key COVID-19 ministers over the government’s ongoing response to the pandemic.

At least two of those opposition leaders — Bloc Quebecois chef Yves-Francois Blanchet and New Democrat Jagmeet Singh — are booked in for pre-meeting briefings in the West Block press room, with Blanchet set to speak at 9:45 AM followed by Singh at 10:15 AM.

So far, there’s no word from the Conservatives on whether outgoing leader Andrew Scheer will also be making himself available to reporters before — or, for that matter, after — joining his colleagues in the House, but it wouldn’t be at all surprising for him to do so. (In fact, it would be far more surprising if he didn’t.)

After the special committee wraps up, those same party leaders and MPs will reassemble for a formal House proceeding to go over the fine print of Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s plan to provide emergency assistance to students unable to work due to the ongoing cross-country shutdown.

As per the notice paper, the emergency sitting is slated to begin at 2 PM EDT, although that could be delayed if the special committee meeting goes into overtime.

In any case, barring a last-minute cross-aisle standoff, the bill — which was provided to opposition parties under embargo over the weekend — should secure final House approval by the end of the day, although it will still need Senate signoff to make it the law of the land.

Finally, while Trudeau is expected to be in his front-and-centre seat in the Commons this afternoon, his official itinerary also includes phone check-ins with his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, as well as his daily on-camera media update from outside Rideau Cottage. (11 AM)

ON THE VIRTUAL COMMITTEE CIRCUIT

PROCEDURE AND HOUSE AFFAIRS members get together via video conference to continue exploring ways to make sure MPs can continue to perform core parliamentary duties during the pandemic.

On the witness list for the supersized 3-hour session: New Democrat MPs Niki Ashton and Mumilaaq Qaqqaq, who represent geographically remote ridings in Manitoba and Nunavut, respectively, as well as former interim federal privacy commissioner Chantal Bernier, officials from the technology directorate within the current privacy commissioner’s office and representatives from Microsoft Canada and Zoom Video Communications.

Over at INDUSTRY, meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and Economic Development Minister Melanie Joly are both set to make virtual appearance alongside senior departmental officials from across government and Canadian Food Inspection Agency president Siddika Mithani.

Due to the ongoing parliamentary shutdown, most House and Senate committee meetings are suspended until regular sittings resume.